Wire installing machine



1366- 1966 R. M. ARMSTRONG WIRE INSTALLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1965 INVENTOR. ROBERT M. ARMSTRONG FIG-4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,291,356 Patented Dec. 13, 1966 3,291,356 WIRE INSTALLING MACHINE Robert M. Armstrong, 6350 El Paseo Court, Long Beach, Calif. Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 324,687 9 Claims. (Cl. 227-82) The present invention relates to a machine useful in building construction and particularly to a machine for aflixing wire to the surface of a building.

In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in use of heating apparatus which is contained in the walls, floors, or ceilings of buildings. For example, one widely-used form of such heating structure employs pipes mounted within the building structure which carry hot water to heat the interior building space. In general, plumbing for such systems is expensive and complex in installation. Furthermore, the circulating water is sometimes noisy. Therefore, more recently, electrical resistance wire has come into widespread use to provide similar wall heating systems. The conventional inst-allation of electrical heating wire utilizes various wire alloys having a desired resistance characteristic, and covered with heat-stable dielectric material. According to one well-known technique, the resistance heating wire is affixed to the interior ceilings of the building prior to the application of plaster. For example, the heating wire may be tacked to the plaster-supporting lathe then covered with plaster to be concealed. To accomplish uniform heating of a room, the heating wire is conventionally placed over the entire ceiling in spaced-apart relationship. Then when electrical current energizes the wire, heat is developed to warm the interior space.

In accordance with prior practice, resistance heating wire has normally been installed by two men working on a scaffold; one of the men places and holds the Wire While the other anchors it to the ceiling either by tacks or staples. In general, this method of operation is rather slow and expensive. Furthermore, the installation method requires the use of scaffolding, the placement of which is expensive and time consuming. Therefore, the need exists for a simple and inexpensive machine to economically install resistance heating wire upon a building surface.

In general, the present invention comprises a wire installation machine including a frame for supporting a supply of the wire to be installed, and carrying wheels which engage the surface upon which the wire is to be installed to facilitate relative movement of the machine. The frame also carries a stapling unit or other apparatus for setting anchors in the building surface which are capable of supporting the wire. A control unit also carried on the frame then serves to sense the wire drawn off the machine to automatically actuate the fastening mechanism whereby to affix the wire.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for installing wire upon a relatively-fiat surface.

Another object of the :present invention is to provide an improved machine for afiixing resistance-heating wire to the ceiling of a building, which machine is economical to manufacture and use.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a machine capable of economically installing resistance heating wire at a faster rate.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a machine operable by one man and useable without scaffolding, to install heating wire on the interior ceiling of a building.

One further object of the present invention is to provide a simple, relatively-inexpensive machine which may be operated by a relatively-unskilled person to economically install resistance heating wire on a surface of a building or other structure.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following taken in conjunction with the appended drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical drawing view taken along lines 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic representation of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Referring initially to FIGURE 1, there is shown an embodiment 10 of the present invention for installing wire 12 on a ceiling 14. In general, the machine positioned lengths of the wire 12 adjacent the ceiling which are anchored in position by staples 16 driven into the ceiling surface. The machine is simply moved across the floor of the room while wire is drawn therefrom and anchors (staples) are automatically driven into the ceiling to support the wire. Thus the wire is easily and economically placed and is ready to be connected to a source of electrical energy and covered with plaster to complete the construction.

The embodiment 10 of FIGURE 1 includes an upright frame 18 supported on wheels and carrying a reel 20 of wire, one end of which passes over an operating head 22 supported contiguous to the ceiling 14 by the frame 18 so that as the embodiment 10 is wheeled about the.

room, lengths of the wire 12 are placed along the ceiling. Concurrent with the placement operation, the head 22 functions to drive spaced-apart staples 16 which anchor the wire in position.

Considering the embodiment 1-0 of the present invention in greater detail the frame 18 includes a lower elongate upright section 24, the lower end of which receives a guide leg 26 and trailing legs 28 and 30. The guide leg 26 carries a universal caster 32 readily capable of moving in any direction to accommodate either orienting the machine or moving it in various directions. The trailing legs 28 and 30 carry wheel casters 34 and 36 respectively so that the machine has good stability characteristics, and is freely movable over a floor.

The legs 26, 28 and 30 may be formed of steel or various other materials along with the elongated section 24, which is hollow and at its upper end telescopically receives an elongate tube 38. The upper end of the section 24 receives a tapered jam nut 40 which may be tightened on threads to lock the tube 38 in various telescoped positions and thereby vary the operating height of the machine.

The tube 38 incorporates a shock absorber 44 which may comprise simply an enlarged section 42 telescopically receiving a section 41 with a spring 44 therebetween.

Of course, other arrangements can be employed to ac complish a a flexible height for the head 22 so as to permit the head to pass over obstructions as well as to accommodate operation of the machine in rooms wherein the ceiling height relative the floor is not uniform.

The wire supply is provided on the reel 20 mounted between brackets 45 aflixed to the elongate section 24. The reel 20 is friction-mounted relative the brackets 45 to prevent over-running or backlash as the wire is drawn from the reel with various pull forces.

Passing from the reel 20, the wire loops or encircles a metering disk 46 about its curved edge, which disk is supported on brackets 48 affixed to the section 24. From the metering disk 46, the wire passes over a guide pulley 50 to the top of the head 22 which carries wheels 52 that engage the ceiling 14.

In using the machine of FIGURE 1, the operator grasps a handle 54, rigidly afiixed to the section 24, pushing and steering the machine over a path coinciding to the pattern in which wire 12 is to be installed on the ceiling 14. As the machine is steered through such a path, the metering disk 46 is revolved by the moving wire 12, periodically causing spring earns 56 and 58, attached thereto, to contact a microswitch 60 mounted on the section 24. The actuation of the microswitch 60 operates a stapling mechanism located in the head 22 and described in detail below, which inserts a staple 16 to anchor the wire 12 in position. In addition to automatic operation of the stapling unit manual operation is provided by a lever 62, pivotally aflixed to the section 24 to manually operate the microswitch 60 so that a staple 16 may be driven whenever the operator desires.

Upon completion of a desired pattern of the heating wire 12, the operator pulls a lever 64 downward, which lever is pivotally mounted on the section 24 and attached by a cable 66 to a cutting mechanism (considered below) located in the head 22. Upon operation of the lever 64, the cutting mechanism severs the wire 12 permitting the machine to be moved to a new location at which the lever 62 is operated to anchor the end of the wire in position and the desired path is again followed to automatically afiix a pattern of heating wire 12 to another ceiling.

At the conclusion of an installation, or otherwise, it is to be noted that the amount of wire remaining on the reel 20 is indicated by a pivotally mounted arm 69 on a dial 71. This feature is of considerable convenience in using the structure of the present invention.

Considering the structure of the head 22 in greater detail, reference will now be had to FIGURE 2 for a consideration of the electrically-operated stapling unit. It is to be noted that the stapling unit (as shown in FIG- URE 2) leads the cutting unit as will be described with reference to FIGURE 4.

The stapling unit is activated by a solenoid coil 68 (FIGURE 2) energized by a battery 70 (which may be a dry cell contained in the frame 18) through the microswitch 60. That is in one form, the battery 70 may comprise a plurality of cells which are mounted in the frame of the apparatus to actuate the stapler head 22. The driving coil 68 of the unit acts to advance a section of staple wire from a spool, cut the wire, form it into a staple and drive the staple all in a single stroke. Various prior mechanisms may be employed.

The coil 68 drives an armature 72 which is urged upwardly by a coil spring 74 inside the solenoid. The cylindrical portion of the armature 72 extends into an internal housing 78 containing a spring 76 and affixed as a separate unit in the housing of the head 22. The upper end of the housing 78 lies adjacent a guide Wheel 80 (only the annulus is shown) for the heat wire 12, and contains the actual stapling mechanism to form staples from a spool of staple wire contained in a cylindrical drum 82 and to drive the staples into the ceiling surface.

In view of the preliminary description of the struc- 4 ture of FIGURE 2, the operation of the stapler may now best be considered by assuming a staple is to be driven, and describing the detailed operation along with the introduction of the functioning parts.

Upon initial energization of the coil 68, the armature 72 is fully extended so that a staple-driving blade 84 of the armature lies between a pair of staple-forming jaws 86. The jaws 86 are spring mounted as shown in FIG- URE 3 with springs 88 mounted on studs 90 afiixed to the housing 78 so that the jaws 86 are urged together; however, they may be spread apart by the blade 84 forcing the springs 88 to yield.

Referring back to FIGURE 2, it is to be noted that upon initial energization of the stapler, a pair of die plates 92 are also extended under the force of the spring 76, so that they are disposed on either side of the jaws 86.

Upon energization of the coil 68 by closure of the microswitch 60, the armature 72 is drawn into the coil 68. As the motion is started the spring 76 is engaged by the die plates 92 so that it is compressed as the armature draws the plates 92 and the blade 84 away from the jaws 86. When the spring 76 is sufi'iciently compressed to overcome the static friction force between the plates and blade, resulting from their snug fit the plates 92 remain stationary, still held by the friction of engagement while the blade 84 is withdrawn from between the plates 92. The movement of the armature 72 being guided by a ridge 94 mated with the plate 92.

That is, when the coil 68 is energized the armature 72 is withdrawn until the ridge 94 engages the plates 92 and they then move with the armature 72. When the coil 68 is de-energized the spring 76, drives ahead of the armature 72 until the staple is formed and the plate 92 straddle and are stopped by the jaws 86, then the armature 72 drives the formed staple.

As the armature 72 is drawn into the coil 68, driving screw 96 aflixed to the plate 92 moves through an internally-mated wheel 98 which carries about its periphery a loop 100 of the staple wire 101. The wheel 98 is afiixed to the housing 78 and contains a ratchet (not shown) as well known in the prior art, so that it may be revolved by the driving screw 96 only in the direction to advance the staple wire 101 into the housing 78. An exemplary form of the wheel 98 as well known in the prior art is illustrated in a book entitled Engineers Illustrated Thesaurus published in 1952 by Chemical Publishing Company, Inc. figure L on page 187, wherein the exterior cylinder is freely rotatable in one direction of rotations while in the other direction of rotation it is locked to the interior cylinder as shown, which in turn threadably receives the driving screw 96. As a result, when the driving screw 96 is moved downwardly, the exterior of the wheel 98 turns to draw wire 101, however, on the upward stroke of the driving screw 96, the exterior of the wheel 98 does not revolve. Therefore, as the plates 92 move down they draw the screw 86 through the wheel 98 advancing the section 101a of wire into position to form the next staple. At the instant when the microswitch 60 is opened, the coil 68 is de-energized to permit the springs 74 and 76 to ram the armature 72 and the plate 92 through a driving stroke.

During the initial phase of the stroke the plates 92 lead the armature 72 as a result of friction between the blade 84 and the plates 92. During this portion of the stroke, the plates 92 sever the section 101a of wire and fold the wire about the jaws 86 in a U-shape conventional for staples stopping when the momentum is spent. Thereafter, the spring 74 drives the armature 72 between the plates 92 and through the jaws 86, pushing the formed staple through the slot 102 in the housing 78. Thus, as the microswitch 60 is periodically closed automatically or manually, staples are formed and driven over the heat wire 12.

In the operation of the embodiment 10 as shown in FIGURE 1, the wire 12 must be cut at least once during each room installation. As indicated above this operation is accomplished by a cutting mechanism which is shown in FIGURE 4, and to which reference will now be had. A cutting arm 104 is rigidly affixed in the head housing 22 to diagonally extend therefrom adjacent the wire 12 which passes through a guide bracket 106. The guide bracket 106 contains a spring joint 107 which permits the end 109 of the bracket to revolve about the axis of the bracket. Another cutting arm 108 is affixed by a pivot pin 110 to the arm 104 and a compression spring 112 mounted between the arms 104 and 108 maintains the jaws 114 at the ends of the arms separated. However, these jaws are faced with cutting edges so that when the cable 66 is pulled downward, the arm 108 is pivotally moved about the pin 110 to compress the spring 112 bringing the jaws 114 together and severing the wire 12.

In the structure as shown in FIGURE 1, the cutter (as shown in FIGURE 4) is mounted behind the stapler (as shown in FIGURE 3). Therefore, in the operation of the unit to terminate an installation in a particular room, the stapler is operated either automatically or manually actuated to drive the last staple. Next, the entire machine is moved forward and the spring joint 107 permits the staple just driven to pass by pivoting to the side. Thereafter, the end 109 of the bracket 106 swings back to the position shown, during which swing the upturned end 109 of the bracket 106 passes over the wire serving to recapture the wire. Now the cutter of FIGURE 4 is operated to sever the wire 12, freeing the apparatus for movement to perform in other installations. Upon starting the installation, the stapling unit of FIGURE 2 is operated manually to attach the free end of the wire, and the installation is then completed as described above.

It may therefore be seen that the system of the present invention may be effectively employed to install electrical resistance wire on a building surface, as to accomplish heating of the enclosed space. It is to be understood that the apparatus may take a variety of forms and although an electrical apparatus is described above, it is readily apparent that other forms of energy may be employed to drive the staples 16, or to move the apparatus. For example, manual energy may be employed not only to move the apparatus about but also to accomplish the driving of the staples. A diagrammatic illustration of such an apparatus, which is effective with strong heavy resistance wire may be incorporated to so modify the unit of FIGURE 1 is shown in FIGURE 5. The metering disk of 46 of FIGURE 5 is constructed similar to that previously described with extending springs 56 and 58 which merely encounter a drag surface 116. The wire 12 passes from the metering disk 46 over one arm 118 of a toggle 120, guide wheels 122 reducing the friction between such engagement. The toggle 120 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 124 and includes an arm 126 parallel the arm 118, which also carries the wire 12. The arm 126 has a guide wheel 128 mounted at its upper end and the wire 12 passes under the guide wheel 128, then upward and over the guide wheel 130 affixed to the frame of any of a variety of forms of well-known staplers shown as a stapling unit 132. The toggle 120 has a spring 134 affixed to urge the arm 118 up and the arm 126 down. The spring 134 is connected to an extension 136 which also receives a driving arm 138 passing into the stapling unit 132.

In the operation of the unit of FIGURE 5, u on one of the spring cams 56 or 58 engaging the surface 116 the heating wire 12 is placed in considerable tension which applies opposed forces to the toggle 120. Specifically, the tension force in the wire 12 urges the arm 118 of the toggle downward, while it urges the arm 126 upward. As a result, the toggle 120 is moved in a counterclockwise direction lifting the extension 136 to overcome the forces of spring 134 and thereby moving the arm 138 to drive a staple by a movement within the conventional staple unit 132.

Although various other forms of the present invention are readily apparent, it may be seen that the system, including a head that travels over a surface laying wire thereon and periodically inserting staples to positon the wire either by manual control or automatically, results in a considerable savings of time and effort.

Therefore, and from the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a greatly improved and satisfactory apparatus. Furthermore, it will be apparent that this system is capable of many variations and modifications; consequently, the invention is not to be limited to the particular arrangements herein shown and described except as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An installation structure for affixing heating wire to a room surface by means of spaced apart holders, comprising: an elongate support means, movable relative said surface for positioning a length of said wire contiguous to said surface from a supply of said wire carried on said support means; means on said support means for fixing said holders to said surface whereby to anchor said wire thereto; and control means for actuating said means for fixing said holders in accordance with the length of wire extending to the last past fixed holder.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support means includes a reel support for supporting said supply of said heating wire and said control means comprises metering means affixed to said frame for actuating said means for fixing after a predetermined length of said wire is drawn from said supply 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for fixing comprises a stapling gun for placing staples in said room surface to fix said wire thereto.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said stapling gun is electrically operated under control of said metering means.

5. A machine useful in building construction for installing wire on an interior building surface as the wire is drawn from a supply, comprising: a frame for carrying said supply of wire, said frame extending from a support surface to said building surface and including wheels at the lower end thereof to engage said support surface for support; a stapling unit for inserting wire fasteners into said building surface, afiixed to the upper end of said frame; guide means for guiding said wire from said supply to said stapling unit contiguous said building surface; and a metering apparatus for actuating said stapling unit upon passage of a predetermined length of Wire from said supply.

6. A machine useful in building trades for installing wire on a building surface as the wire is drawn from a supply, comprising: a support frame; contact wheels mounted on said support frame to carry said support frame over said building surface; a stapling unit for inserting fasteners into said building surface, said unit being mounted on said support frame continguous said building surface; means for supporting said supply on said frame and directing said wire from said supply to said stapling unit, and means for actuating said stapling unit to anchor said wire to said building surface.

7. A machine useful in building trades for installing wire on a building surface as the wire is drawn from a supply, comprising: a support frame; contact wheels mounted on said support frame to carry said support frame over said building surface; a stapling unit for inserting fasteners into said building surface, said unit being mounted on said support frame contiguous said building surface; means for supporting said supply on said frame and directing said wire from said supply to said stapling unit; and means for sensing the length of wire drawn from said supply to repeatedly actuate said stapling unit whereby to anchor said wire to said building surface.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said support frame further includes support wheels at an end of said frame opposed the location of said contact wheels; unit; and fourth means for sequentially actuating said spring means for urging said contact wheels away from first, second and third means in that respective order. said support wheels; and adjustment means for varying the space between said contact wheels and said support References Cited by the Examiner wheels. 5

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said stapling UNITED STATES PATENTS unit comprises: first means for drawing a length of 'staple 1,708,730 4/1929 Kruse 2 wire therein; second means for bending said length of staple wire into a U-shape configuration; third means for forcing said U-shaped configuration from said stapling 10 GRANVILLE CUSTER Pr'mary Exammer' 

1. AN INSTALLATION STRUCTURE FOR AFFIXING HEATING WIRE TO A ROOM SURFACE BY MEANS OF SPACED APART HOLDERS, COMPRISING: AN ELONGATE SUPPORT MEANS, MOVABLE RELATIVE SAID SURFACE FOR POSITIONING A LENGTH OF SAID WIRE CONTIGUOUS TO SAID SURFACE FROM A SUPPLY OF SAID WIRE CARRIED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS; MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR FIXING SAID HOLDERS TO SAID SURFACE WHEREBY TO ANCHOR SAID WIRE THERETO; AND CONTROL MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID MEANS 